Dances of Old California
by Los CaliforniosVykki Mende Gray will teach dances of 19th century Spanish and Mexican California, accompanied by Los Californios®.
Other dance musicians will be welcome to join, but the teaching emphasis will be on the dancing.
Vykki will share dances learned from our mentor Al Pill, who collected and taught Early California (and traditional Mexican) dance in the last half of the past century.
A veritable mini fandango!
For fifteen years, the San Diego-based group Los Californios® has been researching and interpreting the music of Spanish and Mexican California, focusing on the nineteenth century. Working from primary sources, including Californio testimonials, travelers' accounts, interviews with descendants and collectors, and the early sound recordings of Spanish-speaking Californians made by Charles Fletcher Lummis almost a century ago, as well as secondary sources such as Bancroft's histories, they endeavor to recreate the sound of serenade and fandango from the days before California statehood. Their mission includes not only the presentation of this music, but also the continuation of the traditions through both educational workshops and the instruction of young musicians. Los Californios® is a project of the San Diego Friends of Old-Time Music, a California 501 (c) (3) educational non-profit corporation.
We are:
Vykki Mende Gray,
Janet Martini,
Peter DuBois, and
David Swarens
